The Energon Pub

[sol magnus]

This set is owning my wallet. I didn't get WFC Siege Smokescreen, so I'll likely pick this one up. Doubledealer, Snapdragon, Runamuck, Alicon, Quintesson, are auto buys. I'll probably skip Megatron...probably. He's just not substantially different enough to get....I suppose.

If they do the Datsuns as Earth modes (Prowl, Bluestreak, Barricade) I'll probably break down and get them, since they're my favorites.

I'd really like to see some coneheads.

[Cyberpath]

Snapdragon, finally! The Horrorcons should have been done two or three years ago when Headmasters were all the rage.

Looking forward to more pix of the Quintessons and the others.

BTW, is Runabout (the black Battlecharger) coming too, or will it be some expansive exclusive?

[Diaboragon]

Have you ever felt insulted by a toy reveal? I didn't think it was possible, but that's how Smokescreen and Megatron are making me feel right now. The other reveals are, of course, awesome.

To be insulted by a toy says less about the toy and more about someone who says they’re insulted by it.

Oh get off your high horse. This is a discussion over freaking plastic toys.

[ZeroWolf]

I think the problem with Megatron and the Datsuns is not that they're getting released with g1-ish earthmodes in Earthrise, but rather, that their altmodes in Siege were too earh-like. They should have had more creative, less man-made looking altmodes in Siege.

This is pretty much how I'm feeling about it at the moment.

All of this, 100%.

Calling it right now: Sunstreaker will share a mold with the battlechargers.

I'm pretty sure he will instead share a mold with Wheeljack (assuming it's not an academic distinction).

The problem with trying to give the pre-movie G1 characters less man-made looking altmodes in SIEGE was that the cartoon artists never gave them unearthly robot modes, and so trying to reconcile that... Wheeljack and Bumblebee are the absolute worst offenders.

I will reiterate that I don't have a problem with Smokescreen (the only Datsun we've seen thus far, though we probably will get more), because the SIEGE version was an exclusive that is now harder to find and will probably get expensive. It's like Timelines Thundercracker, Thrust, and Dirge getting retail versions. And much like those, ER Smokescreen offers improvements on the Selects version. Better color layout and he has the spoiler. Although on the other hand, his front end is less Datsun-like...

Megatron, on the other hand, I do have a problem with. In fairness to him, he actually does look significantly different from the SIEGE figure in vehicle mode thanks to the turret changes and not being an H-tank. But he's still just as bland if not more so, has a more awkward melee weapon, and has a more cluttered look in robot mode. I think he'd be better off as G2 Megatron, RID Bludgeon, or just plain scrapped. I've already sent a letter of complaint to Hasbro to that effect, and I suggest those who are similarly disappointed send them letters of your own.

I want a Leader-class Megs that does for him what the ER Leader OP does for Optimus Prime.

How would a leader Class megs work Given that his robot mode would have to be equal height to Prime and can't be a gun mode. What would the extra plastic be used for?

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Edited this observation into my previous post, but a new page happened while I was doing it:

I'm pretty sure that Earthrise Smokescreen is not a reshell but a new mold entirely. I compared his details to my SIEGE Prowl, and...
* The wheels are different
* The shoulders are different
* The hands are different
* The forearms are different
* The upper arms are different
* From what I can see, the lower torso appears to be different
* The pelvis is different
* The thighs are different
* The calves are different

I want a Leader-class Megs that does for him what the ER Leader OP does for Optimus Prime.

How would a leader Class megs work Given that his robot mode would have to be equal height to Prime and can't be a gun mode. What would the extra plastic be used for?

Make him turn into something that has the same shape as the P38, but detailed to look like a vehicle (possibly upside-down). Correspondingly, turn the stock and silencer from the original toy into extensions for that vehicle. And retain their modular combining functions, since those go well with Earthrise's gimmicks.

[no-one]

Anyone notice what looks like a 16 on the side of ER Megatron? Well 016.

The TFWiki shows the G1 toy Japanese ID # as 16. Any other references that are above my head?

How would a leader Class megs work Given that his robot mode would have to be equal height to Prime and can't be a gun mode. What would the extra plastic be used for?

Submarine parts. Base bot is a torpedo, then a sub is built around it. Bonus points if the base bot is spring loaded.

[Sentinel_Primal]

How would a leader Class megs work Given that his robot mode would have to be equal height to Prime and can't be a gun mode. What would the extra plastic be used for?

I think a leader Megatron could be a similar concept to Galaxy Upgrade Prime where it has a voyager Megatron that turns into a jet, and the extra parts he allow him to take on the appearance of Cybertron Megatron, and in vehicle mode the parts give him that "batmobile" mode.

Though I'm more inclined to believe that this theoretical Megatron would come in part 3, with a name like Unicronian Upgrade Megatron, or the more likely option of Galaxy Upgrade Megatron. Especially because Unicron should be coming around that time

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

How would a leader Class megs work Given that his robot mode would have to be equal height to Prime and can't be a gun mode. What would the extra plastic be used for?

I think a leader Megatron could be a similar concept to Galaxy Upgrade Prime where it has a voyager Megatron that turns into a jet, and the extra parts he allow him to take on the appearance of Cybertron Megatron, and in vehicle mode the parts give him that "batmobile" mode.

Though I'm more inclined to believe that this theoretical Megatron would come in part 3, with a name like Unicronian Upgrade Megatron, or the more likely option of Galaxy Upgrade Megatron. Especially because Unicron should be coming around that time

1. That's not what I was talking about, since that wouldn't be a Megatron equivalent to the Earthrise Leader Optimus.

2. It wouldn't work. They pulled off Galaxy Upgrade Optimus because of Optimus' "separate cab robot" nature. But trying it with Cybertron Megatron wouldn't work too well, because of his integrated design. You'd run into worse problems than PotP Optimal Optimus had, and the inner robot wouldn't really be able to look like a G1 Megs anyway (especially if the toy used Cybertron Megatron's color scheme). If you want a new Cybertron Megatron that badly, he'd be best done as a straight-up remake. Cybertron Megs is supposed to be taller than Optimus - especially unarmored Optimus - anyway.

[-Kanrabat-]

I think the problem with Megatron and the Datsuns is not that they're getting released with g1-ish earthmodes in Earthrise, but rather, that their altmodes in Siege were too earh-like. They should have had more creative, less man-made looking altmodes in Siege. Baut they didn't, so now these new figures feel boring, when they're actually pretty cool looking and in line with the whole budget-masterpiece thing Earthrise seems to be shooting for. Rather, it was actually the Siege figures that were boring, taking into account the whole "cybertronian altmodes" concept it was supposed to represent.

BAM!
There's the issue!

Seriously, that Megatron is way too similar to the Siege one. So much that it's a waste of a slot. Siege Megs could have been released as a Eartrise figure with no problems.

Sigh...

If only Siege had those guys as Optimus and Megatron upscaled to voyager size. But no.



That's why I also find Earthrise Optimus to be worthless. Too similar to the Siege voyager and that trailer is totally bare-bone for the asking price.

[alaroc13]

Hope and pray this new ER Arcee gets redecoed down the line into a proper deluxe G1 Elita One...

[Tuned Agent]

I think the problem with Megatron and the Datsuns is not that they're getting released with g1-ish earthmodes in Earthrise, but rather, that their altmodes in Siege were too earh-like. They should have had more creative, less man-made looking altmodes in Siege.

This is pretty much how I'm feeling about it at the moment.

All of this, 100%.

Calling it right now: Sunstreaker will share a mold with the battlechargers.

I'm pretty sure he will instead share a mold with Wheeljack (assuming it's not an academic distinction).

Runamuck already has a very Sunstreaker-like chest and has convenient pegholes in his shoulders for some shoulder pylons. Which mold gets used (if it isn't an entirely new mold) will likely come down to the alt mode. If Runamuck's is too sedan-y, Wheeljack will probably get the nod.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

I think the problem with Megatron and the Datsuns is not that they're getting released with g1-ish earthmodes in Earthrise, but rather, that their altmodes in Siege were too earh-like. They should have had more creative, less man-made looking altmodes in Siege. Baut they didn't, so now these new figures feel boring, when they're actually pretty cool looking and in line with the whole budget-masterpiece thing Earthrise seems to be shooting for. Rather, it was actually the Siege figures that were boring, taking into account the whole "cybertronian altmodes" concept it was supposed to represent.

BAM!
There's the issue!

Seriously, that Megatron is way too similar to the Siege one. So much that it's a waste of a slot. Siege Megs could have been released as a Eartrise figure with no problems.

I think that SIEGE Megatron looked too Earthlike, FWIW, although he could have passed as an earth mode. I think a lot of what makes Earthrise Megatron look too similar to the SIEGE figure is the fact that he has the same bland gray-and-black color scheme, only with even fewer red accents.

Also, see the problem of the cartoon not giving anybody a pre-Earth robot mode.

If only Siege had those guys as Optimus and Megatron upscaled to voyager size. But no.

-Edgeatron and Edgeimus snip-

What did you expect? It's G1 cartoon based.

That's why I also find Earthrise Optimus to be worthless. Too similar to the Siege voyager and that trailer is totally bare-bone for the asking price.

IMO, changing up the stacks and the fuel tanks and removing the bulky overhead lights does a lot to distinguish him. He also has a removable Matrix of Leadership for added play value, and a better-looking gun.

Also, how do you call the trailer "totally bare bones" when it has the functioning repair/attack drone pod and a detachable shield?

[Sabrblade]

Some better pics

You've got Cyberverse and Studio Series mixed in there.

[-Kanrabat-]

Also, how do you call the trailer "totally bare bones" when it has the functioning repair/attack drone pod and a detachable shield?

ER Optimus did improve on Siege for sure. But that trailer is an afterthought. No Roller, the repair drone is ridiculously small, not seats for titan masters and barely any paint. Those "floaty wheels" are also ugly.

As far as regular toylines go for the classic Optimus trailer, the G1 original remain unbeatable.



I may still get that Optimus, but only on heavy clearance.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Also, how do you call the trailer "totally bare bones" when it has the functioning repair/attack drone pod and a detachable shield?

ER Optimus did improve on Siege for sure. But that trailer is an afterthought. No Roller, the repair drone is ridiculously small, not seats for titan masters and barely any paint. Those "floaty wheels" are also ugly.

I wouldn't call the trailer an afterthought, it's more like perforce limited. It's the strict per-size-class plastic and budget limits... They've been a thing since the Beast Era and they're not going away (and the amount allowed per has been diminishing...). In ER Optimus' case, a lot of the plastic limit goes to both Optimus himself and the actual walls of the trailer. I'm frankly surprised they were able to work a complete enclosed trailer including the repair drone into the current limits of Leader-class figures. I would like it to have Roller and Titan Master seats, don't get me wrong, but that would require him to be Commander-class these days. Well, maybe they could have squeezed a seat into the repair drone, but idk for sure.

I would like to say that for all the gnashing of teeth, the majority of Earthrise is not SIEGE retreads, and most of the few SIEGE retreads we've seen at least have enough to them to be worthwhile to lots of people.

That Megatron, however, can go either get a new deco or DIAF.

[homicide]

I certainly agree with the majority, that ER Megatron is insulting, they'd have been better off just rereleasing the Siege mold (again), it's just so similar yet inferior that it's ridiculous!

On the other hand, I'm glad I can pass on the Datsuns this time, what with having the Reprolabels on all my Siege versions I really can see no reason to bother.

I'm looking forward to most of the others, still waiting for the inevitable Run-About, Trailbreaker, Inferno & Sunstreaker reveals.

[-Kanrabat-]

I opened my Siege Starscream and OH BOY! Well worth the full 40$CAN!

Seriously, the amount of paint is huge on this guy. He's solid all over and feel like a quality toy. Joints are stiff and the transformation is simple but clever. The iffy jet underbelly is his only fault in this otherwise awesome package.

Now, I only wish for Thundercracker to be a regular release, not a special Amazon bullcrap box set like Siege Skywarp.

[Burn]

I opened my Siege Starscream and OH BOY! Well worth the full 40$CAN!

Seriously, the amount of paint is huge on this guy. He's solid all over and feel like a quality toy. Joints are stiff and the transformation is simple but clever. The iffy jet underbelly is his only fault in this otherwise awesome package.

Now, I only wish for Thundercracker to be a regular release, not a special Amazon bullcrap box set like Siege Skywarp.

Cool story but this is the EARTHRISE thread, not Siege.

[Burn]

I think he was saying that Stalker (a European Late G1 character) was bottom of the barrel.

I know what he was saying, and I definitely don't need a history lesson on G1.5 figures.

Then why did you act like he was applying the "Bottom of the barrel" part to Soundwave? Just being facetious?

I didn't. That was your interpretation.

Could I have worded it better? Probably. Did the intended person understand what I was saying? Yes. Is this discussion over? Also yes.

[Rainmaker]

YES! I was hoping Smokescreen would just be an Earth mode of the Siege toy. Now there'll finally be a proper trio of Earth datsun's. All these new reveals look awesome, especially Doubledealer, Alicon, Megatron and Airwave.

[Rysquad]

Would be hilarious if Earthrise only had Earth-mode Prowl, Barricade, and Bluestreak to go along with this Smokescreen.

[william-james88]

I opened my Siege Starscream and OH BOY! Well worth the full 40$CAN!

Seriously, the amount of paint is huge on this guy. He's solid all over and feel like a quality toy. Joints are stiff and the transformation is simple but clever. The iffy jet underbelly is his only fault in this otherwise awesome package.

Now, I only wish for Thundercracker to be a regular release, not a special Amazon bullcrap box set like Siege Skywarp.

I feel the same way, I think this is the best G1 screamer we have ever gotten. He is a lot of my wishes come true. Not sure how they will handle the other seekers but I know I will get them (I did not get siege skywarp or TC knowing we'd get another seeker mold here.)

I'm sorry but a safer bet (other than stalker) is Cybertron Defence Red Alert

Pretty sure it will be this, just to piss Burn off

Calling it right now: Sunstreaker will share a mold with the battlechargers.

I called it will be linked to Wheeljack instead, we'll see.

BTW, is Runabout (the black Battlecharger) coming too, or will it be some expansive exclusive?

Probably some kind of exclusive. Or be part of the next line.

Edited this observation into my previous post, but a new page happened while I was doing it:

I'm pretty sure that Earthrise Smokescreen is not a reshell but a new mold entirely.

I was pretty sure that was a given, it looked like a new toy to me.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

@Burn Given what you said was literally just "Bottom of the Barrel? Soundwave?" (followed by a remark that he wasn't very nice), can you really blame me for interpreting it as I did

I opened my Siege Starscream and OH BOY! Well worth the full 40$CAN!

Seriously, the amount of paint is huge on this guy. He's solid all over and feel like a quality toy. Joints are stiff and the transformation is simple but clever. The iffy jet underbelly is his only fault in this otherwise awesome package.

Now, I only wish for Thundercracker to be a regular release, not a special Amazon bullcrap box set like Siege Skywarp.

Cool story but this is the EARTHRISE thread, not Siege.

Given the remark about Thundercracker, I'm pretty sure he meant to say "Earthrise Starscream"

Bringing up the subject of Black Zarak again, I think he still has a decent chance of getting a crowdfund campaign launched even with the added cost of new faceplate parts for the larger Zarak and even after some sellers having leftover Grand Max stock. The Earthrise Scorponok mold doesn't suffer from being a Metroplex retool like TR Fort Max does, it does a lot to reduce the height disparity between Scorponok and Fort Max even if they're not head-to-head even, Black Zarak has a decidedly more exciting color scheme than Grand Max does, and it's a chance for a Black Zarak who doesn't suffer from Gold Plastic Syndrome.

[william-james88]

Would be hilarious if Earthrise only had Earth-mode Prowl, Barricade, and Bluestreak to go along with this Smokescreen.

We will get all 3 main guys at least. The odds of it not happening are lower than the odds of it happening.

[DeathReviews]

Some of it looks pretty good. (Love the Shockwave-esque Airwave with his one eye and gun arm). But there's some that seems kind of humdrum, like Smokescreen. I'd say that race car mold is giving the Seeker jets a challenge in how often they're repeated. And I want to be enthused over Megatron, but it really does look just like the Siege voyager with some new exterior plating. We'll see what they actually wind up doing with the turret. Not a big fan of the way the sword looks with that extra divet all up front...